Cheek uplift



July 8, 1958 M. WALTON CHEEK UPLIFT Filed March l5, 1957 Rubber A b Q uwa 8 m INVENTOR. Ml LDRED WALTON BY ATToR/VEY or sterilized.

United States Patent CHEEK UPLIFT Mildred Walton, New York, N. Y.

`Application March 15, 1957, Serial No. `646,244 12 Claims. (Cl. 12S-76)`This invention relatesA to a pad-like device insertable in the mouth,between the upper lip and the upper gum, either singly or in pairs, forthe purpose of exertingfa light outward pressure upon the portion of thelip or `a view of eliminating or reducing to a marked degree the creaseor line.

One object of importance is to provide a cheek-expanding pad of thecharacter described that will be comfortable when in use, and will notmake diicult such normal functions as eating, brushing the teeth, etc.

Another object is to so form the pad as to permit the same torbemaintained in a sanitary condition, with maximum ease. t t, Anotherobject is to provide a cheek-expanding pad or `mouthpiece as statedwhich will be particularly shaped to not only be comfortable when wornbut, also, to exert pressure at the exact points desired, with a view ofeliminating lines or creasesin lthe face at opposite sides of the upperlip.` 1

Yet another object is to provide an improved construction of acheek-expanding pad of the type described,

wherein the pad will include a body portion of foam or sponge rubber,encased in a thin plastic sheathwhich sheathwill provide protection forthe foam rubber, will prevent the rubber from becoming moistened, andwill itself define atcovering readily adapted to. be washed Stillanother object is to provide af cheek-expanding pad of the characterstated which will include means connecting the. plastic sheath orcovering tothe body portion, which meanswill extend peripherally of thedevice and will be so designed ,as to impart a stilfer construction tothe device at the periphery vthereof than at the center, thus toparticularly effectmaintenance of the device in the desired outerconfiguration.

Still another object is 4to provide, in at least one form iof theinvention, meansthat will define a" relatively noncompressible area atone sideof 'the body, with the forward side of the bodybeingfully.compressible thus `to provide a rm backing for'the device,while at the same time imparting a'softness to the front partthereof'that will` correspondto the relative `softness of the portionofthe, cheek against which the `device is engaged. In

this way; pressures exertedV against the cheekwill not reveal theexistence oftlie devicewithin thefupper portion'of the"moiith,notwithstanding the fact that the `device will be efficiently adapted todischarge its intended function. Y

2,842,l 19 Patented July 8, 1958 ice y Yet another object ofimportanceis to provide a device of thecharacter stated that will be adapted formanufacture at a very low cost, thus to permit the device to bediscarded after ithas been used for a predetermined periodl of time,with a new device being substituted for the `discarded one at so low acost as to be wholly inconsequential, considering the benefits to beobtained from the use of the device.

For further :comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and`advantages thereof, reference will be had to thefollowing descriptionand accompanying drawings, and to the appended claims in which thevarious novel features ofxthe invention are more particularly set forth.In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

4Fig 1 is a generally diagrammatic view illustrating the face from thefront, with a pair of the cheek-uplifting pads being shown in position,in dotted lines.

Fig. 2 is `an enlarged `perspective view of one of the padsper se.

Fig. 3*.is a transverse sectional view, still. further enlarged,substantially on line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a somewhat diagrammatic side view of the `face with the devicebeing `shown in transverse section in proper position, the view beingtaken on line 4-4 of Fig. l.- v

t Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a modilied construction.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged, detail sectional view transversely through `thedevice of Fig. 5, taken on line 6 6 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 6 showing another modilisation.

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Figs. 6 and 7 showing still anothermodification.

In` the form of the invention shown in Figs. 1-4, designated at `10 arethe crease lines of the face which it is intended to remove, through theuse of a pair of the cheek uplift pads 12 constituting the invention.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, in outer configuration each -pad isformedapproximately in the shape of a semicircle.

However, the device can be narrower, with the arcuate edgethereofextending through less than In any event, the device has onestraight `longitudinal edge, this being the upper edge when the deviceis in use, and one continuously arcuate edge, terminating at itsopposite ends at the opposite ends of the straight edge.

vThe device includes a body portion 14 which in the form of theinvention shown in Figs. 1-4 is formed from a single piece of softsponge rubber, foam rubber, or the like. `It is mainly important, inthis regard, that the body portion in this form of the invention be of asoftness` such as to duplicate rather faithfully the softness of theportion of the cheek in back of which the device is engaged. The device,at the same time, has a resiliency tending totnormally dispose the samein an expanded condition `in which it exerts a slight forward pressureon the sides of the upper lip, at the locations of the creases 10...This forward pressure tends to eliminate the creases,` thusimprovingmeasurably the facial appearance ofthe user.

` The body portion 14, when viewed in cross section, is thickest alongits upper edge, the body portion being progressively decreased in widthin the direction of its bottom, arcuate edge. In other words, thestraightedged side of the device is thickest, with the device havingtapering side walls, that cause the same to be progressively reduced inthickness, until, along the arcuate device isi almost blade-like incross-sectional substantially fully from end to end thereof. At theopposite extremities of the arcuate edge, the same becomes slightlyincreased in thickness, to merge into the relatively thick top edgeportion of the pad.

En'ca'sing the body portion 14 isa flexible, thin, rplastic: sheath 16.This completely covers thel body portion, so as to prevent thebodyportion'from becoming satu-v rated with moisture. The sheath, beingwaterproof, prevents any moisture from entering intothemateiial of thebody portion. Further, the sheatli'is so designed as to permit the`device to be washedI whenever desired, lto maintain the same in a fullysanitary conditionl Sheath 16, as shown in Figs.V 143, is secured tothebody portion by a line of lstitching 18, extending thefulllength of thearcuate edge of thedevice.` The stitching is con-` tinued-along'thestraight top edge-` portion ofthedevice as at 20, so that the stitchingextendsthro'ngh"thefull periphery of the device.

The stitches are placed 'close enough togetherto impart a comparativerigidity to the peripheral portion'of'the pad. This tends to maintainthe'pad in shape,and at the same time, the center area of the pad is keptsoft for the purpose of preventing the device from being apparent tot-he casual viewer. The stitching also serves, of course, to connect theplastic sheath to the marginal part ofthe body portion.

In use, the device is inserted in themouth, and a pair of the deviceswould ordinarily be used as 'shown inFig. 1. When so inserted, thedevice is directly in back of the crease 10, with the crease extendingtransversely intermediate the opposite ends of the device. In" this way,a light pressure is exerted against the cheek, tendingto expand the samejust sufficiently to cause the crease to either ydisappear or be hardlynoticeable.

ln Figs, 5 and 6, a modified construction is shown.' vIn this form thedevice has been generally designated" 12e and in size and outerconfiguration, as' wellas in` crosssectional shape, matches the firstform of theinvention.

The only difference between the second and first forms resides in thefact that the sheath 16au of thin, flexible plastic material, encasingthe body portion 14a, is heatsealed as at 18a, that is, the front andback portions of the sheath a e disposed in contacting relation toimpart the desired blade-like cross-sectional shape to the arcuate edgeof the device, with the contacting portionsof the i sheath beingsubjected to heat for the purpose of causing the same to bond to eachother.

The sheath, in both'forms of the invention," can in blank be formedapproximately circularly, with the sheath being folded along a lineextending diametrically thereof, which line defines a straight portionof the sheath extending along the straight edge of the body portion 14or 14a as the case may be.

In Fig. 7 there is shown a modified construction 12b which in outerconguration and cross-sectional shape matches that of the first andsecond forms. In thisforrn, the body portion 14b is only approxiirlatelyhalf` the thickness of the body portion of the first form. The re"-maining half of the space enclosed by the sheathV 1'6 is taken up by arelatively non-compressible portion which results from folding thesheath material upon itself a plurality of times in the space that is tobe enclosed by the outermost portions of the sheath. The folds have beendesignated at 22h, 24b and 26h, respectively, and together occupyapproximately half ofthe thickness of the device, with the remaining,forward half being occupied by the soft, fully compressible portion 14h,I l

When the plastic is folded upon itself a number of times in the mannershown, a comparative lack of compressibility is imparted to the backpart of the pad, providing a firm backing for the compressible, softfront in area, with the folds being progressively reduced in overallarea in a direction-toward the innermost fold. The net result is toprovide a device that has the crosssectional shape of the first twoforms, while at the same time not being formed of a fully compressiblematerial over the full thickness of the device.

In Fig. 8 there is shown another modification in which the comparativelack of compressibility of the rear half of the thickness of the deviceresults from the use of a body section`28c which, thoughformed of softrubber, is firmer and less` easily compressed than the oppositely butindentically formed front section 14c of the body of the device. Thesheath 16c encloses the body sections 28C, 14c and the body sectionswould be cemented along their contacting, flat, inner faces. In thiscase, the sheath 16 can be stitched to the respective sections of thedevice or alternatively, can be heat-sealed as shown.

The use of either stitching'or heat-sealing` can also be carried out inpracticingthe form of the invention shown in Fig. 7.'

In all forms of the invention, the particular crosssectional shapeand'outer configuration of the device has the desirable result ofexerting a'forward, light pressure onthe part of the cheek in back ofwhich'they device is disposed. This eliminates or'reduces the crease 10.

The device remains in place merely by insertion of the same in back-ofthe upper lip, vas shown in Fig. 4, the greater thickness of the samealong the straight top edge portion thereof having the adaptability ofholding the device against downward movementwithin the mouth.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of myinvention, it is to be understood thatI do not limit myself to'theprecise constructions herein disclosed and that various changes andmodifications may be made within thescope of the invention as defined inthe appended claims. l

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as' new, and desire tosecureby'United States` Letters Patent is:

1. A cheek uplift pad for insertion'in the mouth in back of a creaseline for reducing the sharpness of said line, comprising a body havingone generally straight longitudinal edge portion and an arcuate,opposite edge portion merging at its ends into the ends of the first endportion, and a flexible sheath of moisture-proof material fullyenclosing said body. n

2. A cheek uplift pad for insertion in the mouth in back of a creaseline for reducing the sharpness of said line, comprising a body havingone generally straight longitudinal edge portion and an arcuate,oppositeedge portion merging atits ends into theen'ds of therfrstend'portion, and a flexible sheath of moisture-proof material fullyenclosing said body, said body being of tapering cross section.

3. A cheek uplift pad( for insertion in'the mouth in back of a creaseline for reducing the sharpness of said line, comprising a bodyhavingone generally straight longitudinal edgeportion and an` arcuate,lopposite edge portion mergingfatits ends into the ends of the first endportion, and a fiexible 'sheath of moisture-proof material fullyenclosing said body, said body being of tapering 'cross section, saidpad furtheiincluding means stilening the body and sheath atthe'periphery ofthe pad, the body being relatively soft and compressiblein the area bounded by said periphery.

`4. A cheek uplift pad for insertion in the mouth in back of a creaseline for reducing the sharpness of said line,` comprising a body havingone generally straight longitudinal edge portion and an arcuate,opposite edge portion merging at its ends into the ends of the first endportion, and a 4fiexible sheath of moisture-proof material fullyenclosing said body, said body being of tapering cross section, said padfurther including means stiftening the body and sheath at the peripheryof the pad, the

portion merging at its ends into the ends of the first end portion, anda fiexible sheath of moistureproof material fully enclosing said body,said body being of tapering cross section, said pad further includingmeans stifening the body and sheath at the periphery of the pad, thebody being relatively soft and compressible in the area bounded by saidperiphery, said stiffening means comprising a heat-seal extending alongthe arcuate edge of said sheath.

6. A cheek uplift pad for insertion in the mouth in back of a creaseline for reducing the sharpness of said line, comprising a body havingone generally straight longitudinal edge portion and an arcuate,opposite edge portion merging at its ends into the ends of the rst endportion, and a flexible sheath of moisture-proof material fullyenclosing said body, said body being of tapering line, comprising a bodyhaving one generally straight longitudinal edge portion and an arcuate,opposite edge portion merging at its ends into the ends of the first endportion, and a liexible sheath of moisture-proof material fullyenclosing said body, said body being of tapering cross section, saidbody being of sectional formation and including a back part ofrelatively firm material and a front part of a soft, readilycompressible material.

8. A cheek uplift pad for insertion in the mouth in back of a creaseline for reducing the sharpness of said line, comprising a body havingone generally straight longitudinal edge portion and an arcuate,opposite edge portion merging at its ends into the ends of the first endportion, and a flexible sheath of moisture-proof material fullyenclosing said body, said body being of tapering cross section, saidbody being of sectional formation and including a back part ofrelatively firm material and a front part of a soft, readilycompressible material, the back part comprising a plurality ofsuperposed folds formed of an extension of the sheath material.

9. A cheek uplift pad for insertion in the mouth in back of a creaseline for reducing the sharpness of said line, comprising a body havingone generally straight longitudinal edge portion and an arcuate,opposite edge portion merging at its ends into the ends of the first endportion, and a flexible sheath of moisture-proof material fullyenclosing said body, said body being of tapering cross section, saidbody being of sectional formation and including a back part ofrelatively firm material and a front part of a soft, readilycompressible material, the back part of the body comprising a piece ofrubber material having a softness and compressibility less than thefront part of the body.

10. A cheek uplift pad for insertion in the mouth in back of a creaseline for reducing the sharpness of said line, comprising a body havingone generally straight longitudinal edge portion and an arcuate,opposite edge portion merging at its ends into the ends of the first endportion, and a exible sheath of moisture-proof material fully enclosingsaid body, said body being of tapering cross section, said pad being ofblade-like formation for substantially the full length of the arcuateedge portion thereof.

ll. A cheek uplift pad for insertion in the mouth in back of a creaseline for reducing the sharpness of said line, comprising a body havingone generally straight longitudinal edge portion and an arcuate,opposite edge portion merging at its ends into the ends of the rst endportion, and a exible sheath of moisture-proof material fully enclosingsaid body, said body being of tapering cross section, said pad being ofblade-like formation for substantially the full length of the arcuateedge portion thereof, the straight-edged portion being of substantialthickness as compared to the arcuate edge portion.

12. A cheek uplift pad for insertion in the mouth in back of a creaseline for reducing the sharpness of said line, comprising a body havingone generally straight longitudinal edge portion and an arcuate,opposite edge portion merging at its ends into the ends of the rst endportion, and a exible sheath of moisture-proof material fully enclosingsaid body, said body being of tapering cross section, said pad being ofblade-like formation for substantially the full length of the arcuateedge portion thereof, the straight-edged portion being of substantialthicknesses compared to the arcuate edge portion, the thickness of thestraight-edged portion being constant from end to end thereof.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS712,354 Best Oct. 28, 1902 766,367 Mayes Aug. 2, 1904 2,568,197 LatnSept. 18, 1951

